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by Dr. Bert Green 

Spring break- what an awesome time for relaxing and resetting. Vacations are times when routines become more flexible and people rejuvenate. Here are a few suggestions to make the most of Spring Break as a family. Most families would like to spend more quality time together. This is possible even when grown-ups work, but it takes a bit of planning. To begin with, talk to your children (in the car, at dinner, whenever you can be together without distractions). Explain that even though it is vacation, life goes on… people and animals need to eat, laundry needs to be done, trash needs to be taken out, etcetera. Therefore, explain that if children do their part for chores, parents, whether working this week or not, will have more time to enjoy their free time with the children. Have a vacation kick off event. This might be a stop at the playground (if it stops raining), or the local library (if it is still raining), a home game night or a movie with popcorn night. Talk to the children about what they would like to accomplish this week. Don’t be surprised when you hear ‘sleeping and gaming’. Adults should be prepared to offer suggestions that are agreeable to them. In addition to movie night and playground trips, here are a few suggestions: *Check out the library and what programs and passes are offered. * Have children plan and cook dinner. For littles this might be a peanut butter and jelly. sandwich, but older students can prepare more complicated meals. You can also make a family meal together. * Get outside! Go fishing, hiking, biking. *Start indoor seeds for the garden. *Make a scavenger hunt for things to find outside (plants growing, bird next, worm, pine cone, old leaf and so forth.) * Check out a local museum or historical society * Have a color day… Everyone wears the same color, or you tie dye old t-shirts a certain color. I like Pink Day because we watched the Pink Panther at night. *Have a crafts day. *Have a dance party. *Arrange playdates. Families can even trade off child care, if the adult work schedules are different. * Go to church and stay after if your church has a social hour. It's also good to set about 30 minutes aside daily for quiet reading or coloring, as well as 30 minutes for chores. One routine that I recommend keeping is the bedtime routine. While the time may shift a bit (less for younger children), the routine should remain in place to promote healthy sleeping. Have fun and be safe! Remember this is Spring Break for everyone